Hector thought for a moment. “Yeah, we’re cool. But tell your little friend he’s gotta deal with his own shit next time.”

I nodded and walked out the building. Clive followed me to my truck. I unlocked my door before turning to him. “You’re at least halfway paid back to him. And you have time, but Clive you’re on your own on this. I’m not bailing your ass out of this one. Consider your week on the couch done. I’m sorry man, but I can’t get caught back up in this shit.”

Clive nodded, knowing I was telling the truth. I wished him luck, told him to call his mom, and made him promise that he would try to stay safe. Then I got in my truck and drove off. I called Alice on my way, letting her know it was all sorted and fine. We agreed to meet up later that night. I went home and cleaned up a bit, made some dinner and headed out to check out a new bar that had opened up, She Bar. After leaving Hector’s, I was shaking from the adrenaline rush, and hours later, as I made my way into the bar, I felt like I was still riding the buzz. Alice met me at the bar and did an inspection of me head to toe.

“Well, you’re in one piece. Is your buddy Clive?”

I took a large swig of beer. “Hopefully. I kind of left him down there. I just couldn’t deal with getting caught up in that shit…”

Alice tapped my beer with hers. “I’m proud of you Shane. You did not need that in your life right now.”

We drank, and then scoped out the bar. Alice quickly found someone to flirt with for the night and I lost myself in several bathroom buddies and several hits off the one Oxy bullet I kept from the day. I figured I had earned that bullet. I had my arm around a girl for the night as I exited the club in a drugged haze. I didn’t hear the guy calling my name from behind me till someone grabbed my shoulder and turned me around. I came face to face with who I quickly realised was the Hollywood fag.

“I’m looking for your little friend Clive.”

“Man, he left earlier. I have no idea where you can find him. Sorry.”

Some ‘roid-crazed gym addicts came into the light and surrounded me and the Hollywood fag. The girl I was with took off running. Fucking Clive…

“I’m afraid that answer isn’t going to work for me. Where can I find him?”

I held my hands up and stepped backwards. “Man, honestly I have no idea. For all I know, by this time he could be halfway back to San Diego. I’m sorry.”

The last thing I remember is the big guys closing in on me and the burst of pain I hadn’t felt in a very long time…